The Saami Council initiates a think tank for the sámi cultural field

News

11 Sep

The Saami Council has invited a number of Sámi cultural workers and artists to contribute with their expertise in this think tank that will shape new thoughts and proposals for measures for the Sámi arts and culture field in a 10-year perspective.

– The world is currently facing one of the biggest challenges to the creative field with the COVID-19 pandemic and the situation is likely to be long-term. National authorities don’t seem to take into account the unique challenges and issues facing the Sámi cultural workers and institutions when conducting surveys about the situation in the cultural field or when providing crisis packages. Therefore we think it’s important to have forums and arenas where the Sámi cultural field can discuss and come up with policy solutions to our problems, says Christina Hætta, the head of the Cultural Unit of the Saami Council.

The think tank will work on the needs and opportunities for the sámi cultural field, and propose new thoughts, measures and solutions for the Sámi arts and culture field in a 10-year perspective.

– Our hope is that we will come out on the other side of this process strengthened and vitalized for the future. How can we strengthen the sustainability of the Sámi cultural field, and how to make use of the market opportunities that exists in the Sámi Cultural field? These are some of the questions the think tank will face, says Hætta.

The think tank will be active for one year and will have its first meeting today Sepetember 11th. The end result will be a report that aims to strengthen the common Sámi cultural policy both in Sápmi and at national level.

The Sámi Parliament on Norwegian side has supported the think tank.

The think tank consists of the following members: